Australian Mesophotic Coral Examination

Revolutionizing MCE Monitoring
Few conservation efforts have focused on mesophotic reefs, but these ecosystems are also challenged with anthropogenic and natural stressors. The more researchers have learned about MCE’s, the more it appears imperative to advocate for their protection. Scientists aboard the R/V Falkor will address important knowledge gaps in understanding MCEs as well as lay a foundation for effective future monitoring and protection of MCEs across the globe.

Effective monitoring systems are essential for understanding long-term trends in reef communities, as well and for creating conservation efforts. This expedition will make current monitoring methods much more precise focusing on 10-100s of meters while testing innovative in-situ classification systems to monitor key habitats on mesophotic reefs.

At Ashmore Reef Marine Park, the team will use underwater robotics and novel imaging technology to capture high definition video across each shoal. The team will create a streamlined system to collect, process, and analyze the imagery using R/V Falkor’s High Performance Computing (HPC) systems to vastly improve the quality and efficiency of data collection. In parallel, ROV SuBastian will collect biological samples from corals and sponges. The collected specimens will be used to ground-truth the capacity of the new imaging technique for biodiversity studies and taxonomic identification.

Ultimately, the expedition will provide a foundation for the broad application of the new state-of-the-art analysis tools in more than Australia, as MCEs across the globe will benefit through open-access platforms. The new sampling and analysis approaches represent an important scientific benchmark enabling future monitoring and standardization and comparability of MCE data globally.

Sampling and studies of MCEs in Australia are difficult to undertake without dedicated effort from remotely operated vessels. This expedition will mark the first time an ROV and AUV will be used to collect MCE specimens for genetic analysis and reproductive studies. These samples will provide exciting new insight into how individual MCE’s are related, as well as establish a baseline knowledge of community structure and reproductive strategies within MCE. Ecosystems in the northwest continental shelf of Australia, including Ashmore Reef, face a myriad of anthropogenic and natural impacts, therefore recognizing what species exist, how they are maintained, and what physical processes drive MCEs will be extremely important first steps for conservation.